U.S. patent number 7,350,219 [Application Number 11/012,142] was granted by the patent office on 2008-03-25 for slot-in optical recording and/or reproduction apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Lite-On It Corporation. Invention is credited to Chung-Ta Liao, Jui-Chiang Lin.
United States Patent |
7,350,219 |
Liao , et al. |
March 25, 2008 |
Slot-in optical recording and/or reproduction apparatus
Abstract
A slot-in optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus
includes a case formed with a slot and a swingable cover. The case
provides a housing for adopting components of the slot-in optical
recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The optical disk is drawn
out of/into the slot-in optical recording and/or reproducing
apparatus through the slot. The swingable cover is used to
expose/block the slot to/from the exterior of the slot-in optical
recording and/or reproducing apparatus.
Inventors: |
Liao; Chung-Ta (Hsinchu,
TW), Lin; Jui-Chiang (Hsinchu, TW) |
Assignee: |
Lite-On It Corporation (Taipei,
TW)
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Family
ID: |
34570170 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/012,142 |
Filed: |
December 16, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050138652 A1 |
Jun 23, 2005 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 17, 2003 [TW] |
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92222122 U |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
720/647;
G9B/17.017; G9B/33.005 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B
17/0405 (20130101); G11B 33/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
33/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Korzuch; William
Assistant Examiner: Blouin; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Chow; Ming Sinorica, LLC
Claims
We claim:
1. A slot-in optical read/write apparatus comprising: a case having
a slot formed thereupon, wherein an optical disk is drawn out
of/into said slot-in optical read/write apparatus through said
slot; and a swingable cover for exposing/blocking said slot to/from
exterior of said slot-in optical read/write apparatus, wherein one
longitudinal side of said swingable cover is axially jointed on
said case; and a fitting pad adhered to an inward surface of said
swingable cover for being inserted into said slot at the time when
said swingable cover blocks said slot; two positioning posts,
inwardly protruding from inward surface of said swingable cover
being separated by said fitting pad; and two positioning holes,
positioned on said case to adopt said two positioning posts
respectively when said swingable cover blocks said slot.
2. The slot-in optical read/write apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising an impetus part for being applied a force thereon, which
enables said swingable cover to swing in a predetermined direction,
said impetus part being protruded and positioned at an outward
surface of said swingable cover from said slot.
3. The slot-in optical read/write apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising a semicircle-gear-wheel and a gear wheel unit
respectively fixed to said swingable cover and disposed in said
case, said gear wheel unit being rotated by a driving device and
being engaged to said semicircle-gear-wheel for swinging said
swingable cover.
4. The slot-in optical read/write apparatus of claim 1, further
comprising two pivots and two bearings, said two pivots being
formed on two ends of said longitudinal side of said swingable
cover, said two bearings being positioned on said case and adjacent
to two ends of said edge of said slot, said two pivots are engaged
with said two bearings respectively, thereby axially jointing said
swingable cover to said case.
5. The slot-in optical read/write apparatus of claim 1, wherein
said fitting pad is formed of rubber.
6. The slot-in optical read/write apparatus of claim 1, wherein
said fitting pad is formed of soft plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to an optical recording and/or reproducing
apparatus, and more particularly to an optical recording and/or
reproducing apparatus of slot-in type with an openable
blocking-cover.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
As various applications in multi-media technology widely spread,
the demand for the large-volume data storage media, such as Compact
Disk, and the access device, such as Compact Disk Drive, have been
growing rapidly. In particular, the application using CD as a
storage media has remarkable increased, so the optical read/write
device, which is used to read/write the CD, is also extremely
popular. Nowadays, for example, each Personal Computer at least has
one optical access (read/write) device, such as CD-ROM, CD-RW,
Slot-In Optical read/write device, Combo CD drive, DVD-R/RW drive,
. . . and external CD drive.
In order to easily and quickly draw/insert the CD from/to the CD
drive, as well as to the request for slim, thin, and light product
design, the slot-in is a very attractive option for the CD drive
design. So this type of design (slot-in type) is generally adopted
in car stereo system and note book computer as an optical
read/write device to read and/or write CD.
Because the optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus is used
to optically read/write a compact disk (or optical disk), so the
optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus is also referred as
optical read/write drive hereafter. FIG. 1 schematically shows a
perspective view of the front portion of the traditional slot-in
optical read/write drive 2 and a Compact Disk 4 fed thereto.
Sparing the ejectable tray for loading CD, the slot-loading design
prevails the tray-loading design in many applications in optical
read/write driver. However, without the protection provided by the
cover at the front edge of the slot 6, exterior dust and small
object will easily intrude through slot 6 of the traditional
slot-in optical read/write drive 2, in addition, the noise from the
operation of the internal device of the traditional slot-in optical
read/write drive 2 will directly spread to exterior through the
slot 6.
Due to the foregoing reason, the exterior material tends to pass
slot 6, and accumulate on the interior device or mechanism of the
traditional slot-in optical read/write drive 2, then malfunction
resulted and the expected life of the traditional slot-in optical
read/write drive 2 can not be reached. Even if the traditional
slot-in optical read/write drive 2 can work properly, the noise
from the traditional slot-in optical read/write drive 2 resulted
from normally operating parts and intruding-material accumulated
parts probably will make the user doubts the quality of the
traditional slot-in optical read/write drive 2. This noisy
operation will greatly deduct the value of the traditional slot-in
optical read/write drive 2.
Because of the problems mentioned above, this disclosure provide an
apparatus to solve the problems and to improve the value of the
traditional slot-in optical read/write drive 2.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a
optical read/write drive with a swingable cover to avert external
dust and small object from intruding into the read/write device and
to prevent the interior-generated noise from spreading out of the
optical read/write drive. So the life of the optical read/write
drive can be prolonged, and the value of this product can be
raised.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fitting
pad adherent to the inward surface of the swingable cover, which is
to be squeezed into the slot, so the edges of the slot can seize
the fitting pad, and further improve the dust-proof,
intruding-object-proof and sound-proof efficiency.
It is one more object of the present invention to provide a handy
device, which is an impetus part, protruding outwardly from the
outward surface of the swingable cover, thus the user can swing the
swingable cover to expose/block the slot more easily when the user
wants to access the CD.
In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention
relates to a slot-in read/write drive includes a case having a
slot, a swingable cover, a fitting pad and a impetus part, the user
can access compact disk through the slot from the slot-in
read/write drive.
The fitting pad mentioned above, which is adherent to the inward
surface of the swingable cover, is also designed to be squeezed
into the slot at the time when the swingable cover blocking the
slot. In addition. the present invention further includes two
pivots and two bearings. The two pivots are formed on the two ends
of the longitudinal side of the swingable cover respectively, and
the two bearings are positioned on the case and adjacent to the two
ends of the edge of the slot respectively. The two pivots are
engaged to the two bearings respectively, thereby axially jointing
the swingable cover to the case adjacent to the edge of the
slot.
The impetus part is also designed for being applied with a force
thereon, thus enabling the swingable cover to swing in a
predetermined direction. The impetus part protrudes from the
outward surface of the swingable cover, thereby the impetus part
itself provides a predetermined distance from the exterior surface
of the slot-in optical read/write drive when the slot is blocked by
the swingable cover.
The foregoing description detailed how the present invention
utilizes a swingable cover of the optical read/write drive to avert
external dust and small object from intruding into the read/write
device and to prevent the interior-generated noise from spreading
out of the optical read/write drive. This is the reason why the
life of the optical read/write drive can be prolonged, and the
value of this product can be raised. According to the present
invention, the fitting pad is adherent to the inward surface of the
swingable cover, which is to be squeezed into the slot, so the
edges of the slot can seize the fitting pad, and further improve
the dust-proof, intruding-object-proof and sound-proof efficiency.
The present invention also provides a handy device, which is an
impetus part, protruding outwardly from the outward surface of the
swingable cover, thus the user can swing the swingable cover to
expose/block the slot more easily when the user wants to access the
CD.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be specified with reference to its
preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in which
FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of the front portion
of the traditional slot-in optical read/write drive and a compact
disk (CD) fed thereto;
FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the perspective view of the
openable blocking cover and the optical read/write drive in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2B illustrates the cross-sectional side view of the front
portion of the optical read/write drive and the openable blocking
cover and the spacial relationship between them;
FIG. 3 is the schematic perspective view of the openable blocking
cover from inward surface;
FIG. 4A schematically illustrates the perspective view of the
openable blocking cover and the optical read/write drive in
accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 4B illustrates the cross-sectional side view of the front
portion of the optical read/write drive and the openable blocking
cover, and the spacial relationship between them; and
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates, in side view, the cross section
of the front portion of the optional read/write drive according to
the third embodiment of the present invention, which utilizes a
certain mechanism (e.g., a gear drive) to enable the swingable
cover to swing without manual force.
FIG. 6 schematically shows the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 2A schematically illustrates the perspective view of the
openable blocking cover 30 and the optical read/write drive 32 in
accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2B illustrates the cross-sectional side view of the
front portion of the optical read/write drive 32 and the openable
blocking cover 30 and the spacial relationship between them. This
invention discloses an optical read/write drive 32 comprising a
case 31 have a slot 34 formed thereupon wherein an optical disk is
drawn out of/into the slot-in optical read/write apparatus 32
through the slot 34 and an openable blocking cover 30, which can be
utilized to cover the slot 34 and to isolate the interior of the
optical read/write drive 32 from the exterior.
According to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the openable blocking cover 30 includes a swingable
cover 302 and a fitting pad 304, wherein the fitting pad 304 can be
a soft pad. When the slot 34 is covered by the openable blocking
cover 30, the fitting pad 304 is tightly inserted in the slot 34 so
that the dust and exterior object has been prevented from entering
the optical read/write drive 32 via the slot 34 and the internal
operation noise has been isolated from scattering out of the
optical read/write drive 32 via the slot 34.
The schematic side view of the openable blocking cover 30 is shown
in FIG. 2B, and the schematic perspective view of the openable
blocking cover 30 from inward surface is shown in FIG. 3. According
to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
swingable cover 302 is used to expose/block the slot 34, wherein
the fitting pad 304 is adherent to the swingable cover 302, and is
positioned between the swingable cover 302 and the slot 34. When
blocking the slot 34, please referring to FIG. 2B, the swingable
cover 302 forces the fitting pad 304 to insert in the slot 34. As
shown in FIG. 3, the size of the fitting pad 304 make itself lodge
in as well as block the slot 34, thus the interior of optical
read/write drive 32 has been sealed to improve the dust-proof,
intruding-object-proof, and sound-proof efficiency; Being fitted to
the slot 34, the fitting pad 304 makes the swingable cover 302 keep
close even when an unexpected external force applied thereon. As
depicted in the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the material of the fitting pad can be made of rubber,
soft material (such as soft plastic or foamed plastic) or elastic
material.
FIG. 4A schematically illustrates the perspective view of the
openable blocking cover 30 and the optical read/write drive 32 in
accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 4B illustrates the cross-sectional side view of the
front portion of the optical read/write drive 32 and the openable
blocking cover 30 and the spacial relationship between them.
According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the
an optical read/write drive 32 comprising a case 31 have a slot 34
formed thereupon wherein an optical disk is drawn from/into the
slot-in optical read/write apparatus 32 through the slot 34 and an
openable blocking cover 30, which can be utilized to block the slot
34 and to isolate the interior of the optical read/write drive 32
from the exterior. In addition, the openable blocking cover 30
includes a swingable cover 302, a fitting pad 304, and a impetus
part 306, wherein the fitting pad 304 can be a soft pad. When the
slot 34 is covered by the openable blocking cover 30, the fitting
pad 304 is tightly inserted in the slot 34 so that the dust and
exterior object has been prevented from entering the optical
read/write drive 32 via the slot 34 and the internal operation
noise has been isolated from scattering out of the optical
read/write drive 32 via the slot 34.
One longitudinal side of the swingable cover 302 is axially jointed
on the case 31 and adjacent to one edge of the enclosure
surrounding the slot 34, i.e., is axially jointed to one edge of
the slot 34. As obviously depicted in FIG. 4B, the other
longitudinal side of the swingable cover 302 can swing, thus
enabling the swingable cover 302 to pivot on the axis parallel to
the longitudinal side of the swingable cover 302, which is jointed
to the foregoing edge of the slot 34, and the swingable cover 302
can expose/block the slot 34 thereby. In the second preferred
embodiment of the present disclosure, please referring back to FIG.
4A, there are two pivots 36 located on two ends of the foregoing
longitudinal side of the swingable cover 302 respectively. Each
pivot 36 correspondingly engages one of the two bearings 38, which
are respectively positioned on two ends of the foregoing edge of
the enclosure surrounding the slot 34. Thus the swingable cover 302
can pivot on the direction parallel to the foregoing edge of the
slot 34.
According to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the
schematic side view of the openable blocking cover 30 is shown in
FIG. 4B, and the schematic perspective view of the openable
blocking cover 30 is shown in FIG. 3. According to the second
embodiment of the present invention, the swingable cover 302 is
used to expose/block the slot 34, wherein the fitting pad 304 is
adherent to the swingable cover 302, and is positioned between the
swingable cover 302 and the slot 34. When blocking the slot 34,
please referring to FIG. 4B, the swingable cover 302 forces the
fitting pad 304 to cover and block the slot 34. In addition, the
size of the fitting pad 304 make itself lodge in as well as block
the slot 34, thus the interior of optical read/write drive 32 has
been sealed to improve the dust-proof, intruding-object-proof and
sound-proof efficiency. Being fitted to the slot 34, the fitting
pad 304 makes the swingable cover 302 keep close even when an
unexpected external force applied thereon. As depicted in the
second preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the material
of the fitting pad can be made of rubber, soft material (such as
soft plastic or foamed plastic) or elastic material.
Please refer to FIG. 4B, the impetus part 306 is protruded and
positioned at outward surface of the swingable cover 302, which is
adjacent to simultaneously perpendicular to the surface facing the
slot 34. In other words, the impetus part 306 is located at the
outward surface of the swingable cover 302 from the slot 34. The
swingable cover 302 can swing in an expected direction responding
to a force applied on the impetus part 306, and the slot 36 is
opened/closed.
Because it is manually operated, the type of impetus part 306
mentioned above can be utilized in the swingable cover 302 referred
as a manual type. In addition, in the third embodiment of the
present invention, the swingable cover 302 can automatically swing
to expose/block the slot 34 without manual force. To roughly
illustrate the construction, please refer to FIG. 5, in side view,
it schematically illustrates the cross section of the front portion
of the optional read/write drive 32 including the openable blocking
cover 30, which utilizes a certain mechanism such as a gear drive
to enable the swingable cover 302 to swing without manual force.
Because the mechanism operates responds to an electric signal, and
is driven by electricity, this type of swingable cover 302 can be
referred as electricity driven type. The gear drive mentioned
above, according to the third embodiment of the present invention,
includes a fixed gear wheel 40 being a semicircle gear wheel in
this embodiment fixed on the inward surface of the swingable cover
302, a gear wheel unit 42 and a driving device 44 electrically
coupled to a button 46. The gear wheel 40 is engaged to the gear
wheel unit 42, and the gear wheel unit 42 is driven by driving
device 44 such as a motor which is driven by the power from
electricity. The driving device 44 is activated by a control signal
(for example an electric signal) generated responding to pushing
the button 46 on the outward surface of the optional read/write
drive 32. Thus, by pushing the button 46, the user can easily
control the swinging of the swingable cover 302, thereby
exposing/blocking the slot 34 easily.
In order to more firmly fix the swingable cover 302 in position
while the swingable cover 302 blocking the slot 34, in the fourth
embodiment of the present invention, please refer to FIG. 6, the
swingable cover 302 and the edge of the slot 34 respectively
include the positioning post 48 and positioning hole 50 formed
thereon. This construction can also be applied to all other aspects
of all embodiments of the present invention. The two positioning
posts 48 are adherent to the inward surface of the swingable cover
302, and are longitudinally separated by the fitting pad 304,
accordingly, the two positioning holes 50 are formed in the front
of the case 31 of the optional read/write drive 32 and positioned
corresponding to the two positioning posts 48 respectively, thus
enabling the two positioning posts 48 inserting into the two
positioning holes 50 when the swingable cover 302 blocking the slot
34. Solo squeezing the fitting pad 304 into the slot 34 sometimes
can not provide enough force to hold the swingable cover 302, so
the fourth embodiment of the present invention use the positioning
post 48 and the positioning hole 58 to provide additional force to
prevent the swingable cover 302 from unexpected opening and to keep
the swingable cover 302 in position.
According to the foregoing description, the swingable cover 302 of
the optical read/write drive 32 in the present invention can avoid
dust and small object invasion from the exterior, and prevent the
interior-generated noise from spreading out of the optical
read/write drive 32. So the life of the optical read/write drive 32
according to the present invention can be prolonged, and the value
of this product can be raised. In addition, the fitting pad 304
adherent to the inward surface of the swingable cover 302 is to be
squeezed into the slot 34, so the present invention can further
improve dust-proof, intruding-object-proof and sound-proof
efficiency. Furthermore, in order to make the optical read/write
drive 32 a handy device, a impetus part 306 is added to the outward
surface of the swingable cover 302, thus the user can open the
swingable cover 302 to expose the slot 34 more easily when the user
wants to access the CD.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the
disclosed embodiments of the present invention as well as other
embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art.
Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all
embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *